The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-12-06
FARMS AND FARMERS.
Short Talks With the Men Who
Guide the PloW.
QUERIES ON FARM TOPICS ANSWERED

Winter Work-Removing DISTINCTIONS, Etc.
Where land is devoted to pasture, the
presence of rocks, stumps, grubs, ETC., whilst
not desirable, is not highly Objectionable
Rocks prevent the soil under them from dry
ing, and plants growing near them probably
make up by their increased growth from this
circumstance, for the room which the rocks
occupy. But on cultivated land they are not
only annoying and unpleasant, but the cause
OF positive loss to the farmer. Rocky ground
cannot be plowed OF narrowed satisfactorily.
Rocks throw the pillow out of the ground, or
prevent its entering the soil, requiring in
creased labor from the plowman. If large
they stop the pillow, which has to be lifted out
and new start made Qabor and time LOST,
with possibly the accompaniment of broken
plow or gear Now this occurs not once only
but every time the land is plowed. Now we
submit that it would be saving of labor, and
therefore of money, to remove the rocks
The time spent in doing this would
be less than that lost in stopping
and lifting plows, and in making misslicks
with the hoe. A hand will take at least twice
as long to hoe a piece of rocky ground as a
piece that is smooth. Multiply this extra
time by the number of years the land is Guilt
yated-ten, fifteen, twenty or more, and would
it not be cheaper to remove the obstruction.
But in the case of rocks, what disposition
shall be made of them; admitting the desira-
bility of removing them. One excellent use
is to make distractions across gullies; another
TO macadamize soft places in farm roads. If
there are more than are needed for these pur-
poses, put them along the terrace borders.
They will strengthen these, and at the same
time be out of the way of pillow and hoe. If
nothing else can be done haul them out and
deposit them along the sides Of roads or per-
manent woods where they may be reached
hereafter. should any use for them arise.
Don't pile them up here and there over
field, as was the old-time fashion. These piles
are too much in the way, and are nurseries for
bushes and trees. Everything that brings la
Dor over and over again every year should be
avoided, if practicable-open bitches, fence
rows, rock piles are all in the category. They
are very expensive things.
Fortunately, there are many fields without
rocks, but there are comparatively few with
out grubs. Persimmon, sasSafras, sweetgum,
etc., are very widespread npisances in our
fields Cutting them down every year, an
inch or two below the surface las is usually
done), keeps the part above ground tolerably
small, but the part below ground grows larger
every year, and soon becomes an un-
derground stump, strong enough to stop
pillow. Now, is it not better to
take the necessary time and dig them
up entirely than to imperfectly grub them ey-
cry year. Sometimes laborers may be employed
to dig them up by the job; few cents apiece
or wage hands may do the work at odd times
and at leisure times-such as the present A
farmer who hires laborers for the year. should
employ his labor on betterments, whenever it